The document analyzes the trailer for 'This is England', highlighting how the production company's ident promotes recognition and sets the tone for the film. It discusses character introductions, setting, and visual cues that enhance audience connection and portray the main character's struggles with bullying and finding belonging. The analysis also points out the film's socio-political themes and its nostalgic references to 1980s England through various editing techniques and audience engagement strategies.

1. This Is England –
Trailer Analysis
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A2 MEDIA STUDIES – JADE MELADY

2. Before the initial establishing shot of the
trailer, we are immediately given the
production company names and logos,
these are called ‘ident’s. Having the
production company names at the start
promotes the name, makes it
rememberable and as such, ‘gets it out of
the way’. By this, I mean, it leaves space
at the end of the trailer to have the title
of the film, and leave a cliff hanger
ending before the billing blocks
, making the trailer more effective in
appealing to an audience.
The production companies of
This Is England is IFC Films
and Red Envelope
Entertainment. Their ‘idents’
only appear for a short period
of time, around 1-5 seconds put
together. It allows the audience
to familiarize themselves with
the names.

3. In this establishing shot they’ve included an award the film has won, ‘Best
Film’. Including this is their trailer helps provide information to the audience
about how successful their film is. It is in bold black and white lettering,
making it stand out over the urban background setting. Also, including this
shot at the start of the trailer gets the audiences attention from the start, making
them want to continue watching. This shot shows the typical conventions of
any trailer by featuring an establishing shot of a location to familiarize with the
audience as to where the film is set.

4. Using a fade in and out transition, in the next shot we are
introduced to our main protagonist, a young boy walking
through a rough estate on his own, presenting him as
lonely and possibly a bullied character. We as an
audience automatically begin to feel sorry for him. In the
shot below, We see our main character walking through
the streets in the early morning, as shops are only just
opening. It presents the area as rough, and our character
is in simple, working class clothes.
This immediately relates with the target audience, as
they automatically relate with the area and the style
of our character. For those not from a working class
area, it presents a feeling of escapism when watching,
and makes them feel even more sympathetic for the
character. Using a working class area and less well
known characters increases the verisimilitude of the
film.
The next shot shows the character at home, throwing
off his jacket, this is very representative of most
teenagers and is shown in a realistic setting, with
family pictures, washing lying around and dirty pots
on the side, and is also very stereotypical of a working
class flat. His costume also reflects where the film is
set, 1983, for example, flared chord trousers and a
brown satchel.

5. Next, we are introduced to the main narrative point, our character is being bullied.
The bullies are grouped together, showing their power and size above Shaun, and
also emphasizes Shaun’s loneliness. Shaun then launches at the bully, starting a
fight, which is stereotypical of a working class, urban area lifestyle. This wide angle
medium long shot of Shaun starting the fight, reflects the type of character Shaun
is, showing he isn’t afraid of them, or links to Shaun being used to that kind of
behaviour.

6. A cut then introduces us to the location and time setting of the
film, ‘England, 1983’. By using the colours black and white, it could link to
the main issues raised in the film, which is racism, again, linking back to the
common problems seen in a social realist film. The non-diegetic music
increases in volume and tempo when the titles appear on the
screen, uplifting the previous atmosphere of the scenes.

7. The next several clips are featured using an editing transition of montage
editing. Following from the previous clip of the title ‘This Is England’, the
montage shows various different famous events that happened in
England in the 80’S. By including this, it helps connect with an older
audience, because they can relate to that time period, but it also helps
educate the younger audience as to what life was like in the 80’s and the
major events that took place.

8. After the montage we see Shaun taking to his mother, where Shaun says ‚I don’t like it here mum,
his Birmingham accent allows the audience to know the location of the film, Birmingham. It also
allows the audience to connect and sympathise with the character. The next clip takes us back to the
titles, using the same design. The titles say ‘Shaun went looking for a friend’, this instantly makes
Shaun appear vulnerable, and lonely, which is a common issue which teenagers suffer from,
making it more relatable to its audience.

9. Followed straight after the title clip, it shows Shaun with his new
‘friends’. This becomes comical to the audience as it is far from what we
expected, as the friends he finds are grown men(shown in the screen
shots above). As we see from the characters costumes, all of them are
‘skin-heads’ which, in the 80’s meant you were part of a particular gang
or culture. They all seem to be wearing similar clothing too, such as
skinny jeans, boots, shirts and brace, juxtaposing against the
appearance of Shaun. Making him still seem like the outcast. In the clip
the main man he meets(the one he shakes hands with) introduces him
to his ‘main men’, Milky, Pukey and Gadget. All having nicknames, this
again signifies that they could be part of a gang. They are all smoking
and/or drinking, and are hanging out in a graphitized alley, all
implying they are trouble fro Shaun.

10. After he meets these people, the trailer
shows us this text, ‘he found a
family’, instituting that these people
have helped him become someone
better and made him happy. Before he
went looking for ‘a friend’, but now he
has found a ‘family’, it implies that he
is now part of their ‘gang’.
The next clip shows Shaun
getting his head shaved by
some girls. This could show the
fact that he is ‘joining the gang’
and trying to fit in and be like
his new found role models.
After this shot it also shows
Shaun with a completely
different style, with a voice in
the background saying ‚what a
transformation‛ implying that
maybe Shaun was pressured
into changing his style.

11. This shot shows a black screen with a ripped
newspaper effect text over it. ‘Shane Meadows’ is a
well known director, putting his name in the
trailer helps distribute and appeals to his already
growing fan-base. They call the film an
‘international smash hit’, this helps promote the
film from within the trailer, sort of bragging about
how much of a success their film is.

12. These shots show Shaun enjoying himself with his new friends, and fitting in.
This makes the audience feel happy for Shaun. However, after these shots we are
introduced to another character, the leader of their ‘gang’ who gets Shaun into
trouble and gets him deeper into the gang lifestyle.

13. The background for this shot is
Shaun with his new ‘friends’ in an
estate walking, acting ‘tough’. This
shows what a bad influence these
people have been on him.
However, in front of this negative
image, shows the positivity the
film got, with awards in black and
white lettering covering the image,
just like in the establishing shot.
By showing these shots it shows
how successful the film is, and
why they should watch it. This
shot (right) shows that the
young actor won an award for
‘best newcomer’, this promotes
his talents and makes the
audience want to see how he
won that award, and also makes
the actor more popular.

14. This quotes shows opinions from
well-known magazines and newspapers
such as Premiere Magazine and New
York Daily News, showing that the film
has gone global, therefore must be a
success. The text is displayed on a
ripped newspaper style design, making
it look like its come straight from the
paper. This makes the review seem more
realistic and believable, and persuades
us to watch the feature.
Including quotes from the public
and highly respected reviewers it
allows the audience to see others
opinions on the
film, encouraging them to go and
see it themselves so they can
agree with or criticize the review.
The reviews are situated over
graphitized alley ways or flats
ect. Which symbolizes the
conventional ‘hubs’ which city
teenagers hang out in, increasing
the verisimilitude. It also
highlights the films small budget.

15. With classical non-diegetic music playing in the background, a slow fade take sus
to a close up of Shaun, then follows another fade transition used to have the text
appear the left of Shaun’s face. The colour scheme of the title(red, white and blue)
reflects the colours of the English flag, relating significantly to the title of the film
‘This Is England’. The close up shot of Shaun looking directly at the camera
makes the audience feel like he is directly looking at them, making it seem intense
and dramatic, which could reflects the narrative of the film. The breaking of the
fourth wall with the audience makes the storyline more personal, and helps the
characters form an intense relationship with the character and makes them feel as
though they are part of the film.

16. As standard at the end of every trailer we see the ‘billing blocks’.
This highlights and recognises all production companies and film
crew. It allows the audience to realize that the trailer is over, and
allows them to identify with who made it.